School Store is the place to go to get all your Milford gear. A colorful variety of T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweats, baseball caps and winter hats are in stock, among other products.
The store is open every day during all lunches to students, staff, and parents.
School Store is run by Milford High School students taking the class fourth hour. Working School Store is a great opportunity for students to learn how to run a business efficiently and to experience the business world.
This year, that class is taught by Ronda Cianferra, who began teaching School Store last year during second semester.
The main difference between School Store this year and last year is how the store is run.
“I feel like the class is run more smoothly and orderly this year,” said Cianferra. “My favorite part about teaching School Store is the fact that it’s a real business, a hands on business, run in the school by the students, so it’s fun.”
There are many different positions or jobs in the School Store, including cashier, visual merchandizing, promotions team, assistant manager, and book keeper.
The students rotate through each of the different jobs during the semester, learning what it takes to run a business.
To join School Store, a student has to turn in an application, along with other qualifications.
“In order to take School Store, a student must have taken and been very successful in at least two marketing classes,” Cianferra explained.
Only juniors and seniors can apply to take this class, and the students GPA is considered before approving the application.
In that application, the junior or senior has to have at least three teacher or coach references that can vouch for a student’s work ethic.
“You get in this class through application only and it is really important to have the teacher or coach references in the application,” concluded Cianferra.
The highest position a student can hold is the manager, who is currently Mackenzie Zondlak.
To become the manager, students need to have taken two business classes, has to be in their second year of School Store, and have to show interest in being the manager.
“You have to show the extra effort, go the extra step, and make sure the teacher knows you are interested in being the manager,” said Zondlak.
As manager, Zondlak has her own jobs. She oversees the other students doing their jobs and occasionally makes deposits. Earlier in the semester, she had to teach the others how to correctly and efficiently do their jobs.
The students in School Store have a lot of fun in the class while learning too.
“I love business classes and it’s a really fun class,” said Claire Slaughter, a first year student in School Store. “I love to hang out with my friends in this class.”
The students enjoy other aspects of the class as well.
“School store is a lot of fun,” said Dan Jaklic, also a first year student. “My favorite part of working School Store is talking with the customers. I’ve learned a lot, too. Mainly, I’ve learned the processes of business and what it takes to run a successful enterprise.”
The School Store has many sales throughout the year. The latest featured product is the Be Happy t-shirts in memory of Mr. Cremeans for $10.